The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-04-07
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
IN Amended Report Of Csrlinal 0ibbe.s Of Bal
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IN Amended Report Of Csrdinal 0ibbeas Of Bal.
.s,ss@, re tinors.
Rome, March %. The text Of Cardinal
Gibbons report on the knights Of Labor
shows that several additions have been
Referring to the objection. urged against the
organizations, the cardinal says: %
1T 10 objected that in this kind Of or.
sanitation Catholics mix with Professionals
to the peril Of their faith. Amongst &
mixed people like ours separation of relig-
ions in civil affairs ID not possible. To
suppose that tho faith OF Catholics suffers
shows ignorance OF tho Catholic workmen
b.s mob, who reg regard the aaSn
instructed. devoted and ready to
give their blood a. thsy give their
hard-earned gains for her auoport
and protection To tho question wheth.
er it would not be better to havs tho organ
ization conducted by priests under the di.
rect influence OF religion. the cardinal re-
plies that he thinks it neither possible nor
necessary: I'm our country" he says,
I'VE nave abundant means OF making
1t being objected that the liberty OF
the organization exposes Catholics to
deadly influences and associates more
dangerous than even communists and an.
archists, the cardinal said it was true, but
that one proof OF faith would not try
American Catholics. To day such influ-
ences they were exposed every day, and they
knew them we'll and dsspised them. Dan
ger would arise from col iness between the
church and her children. which nothing
would more surely occasion than impru-
dent condemnation. Special stress being
laid upon the violence even to the she'd
ding OF blood. which has characterized
strikes inaugurated by workingmens u.s.
sociations the cardinal says: 'Strikes are
not the invention of the Knights, but q
universal perpetual means by which work.
lngmen protest against what is unjust, and
demand their rights. In such q struggle
OF the multitudes OF the poor against hard
obstinate monopolies wrath and violence
are often inevitable as they are regreta BILE.
The laws and the principal authorities OF the
knights, so far from encouraging violence
or occasions Tor violence exercise a powerful
preventative influence, seeking to keep
strikes within the limits of the legitimate
action. An attentive examination to the
violent struggles between labor and capital
has convinced me OF the injustice OF at
tributing violence to the Knights OF
Labor. The part OF Christian
OF the multitude with ties OF love for the
purpose OF controlling them by the princi-
pals OF faith, justice and charity. Remov-
ed from what is false and criminal, there
will converge into a legitimate, peaceful,
benefcent struggle that which by repulsive
severity, might become for the masses OF
our people volcanic abyss similar to that
which society fears and which the church
deplores in Europe" The cardinal re-
cognized that the great question of the
future is not a question of war, commerce
or finance. but social question touching
the melioration of the condition OF the
popular masses, especially workingmen.
Therefore it is OF sovereign Importance
that tho church be found always firmly
ranged on the side Of humanity and Justice
towards the multitudes composing the
body Of the human family. The conditions
OF the lower classes at prese mt cannot and
should not continue.